Moved. Settled?

We are moved.  The movers were awesome and everything was done in 7 hours as promised.  I have a lot of stuff!  I didn't get to go through as much as I had wanted to because I moved the move up by two months, so I also didn't have vacation to use.  I had Thursday and Friday off to get moved and start unpacking.  I did pretty well on Friday, I got through most of the kitchen stuff, living room and bedrooms.  On the weekend, my parents came down and helped with the unpacking and hanging things up.  It was a good weekend, busy but a lot got done. Including finding a leak. 

On Thursday I saw some water dripping in the basement, I let the landlord know and his dad was going to come and check it out on Saturday.  Friday night I had no hot water.  The leak was right over the hot water tank's controls and I think shorted it out.  So I had to call the hot water tank rental people (at 6:30pm) and also the landlord.  The dad came over to check it out, told me it was just condensation, and left.  The hot water tank guy replaced the controls, no charge because it's a rental.  Saturday when my mom was washing dishes in the kitchen, my dad was down there turning the fuse back on from putting up a light fixture for me, and he yells there's water coming down... yeah so it wasn't condensation. Uh huh.  I called the landlord again, the dad came over again, and this time my dad was here so the two of them figured it out.  He called a plumber, but then it got a little confusing.  I got a call late Saturday night from the plumber who said he'd either come Sunday or Monday after I got home from work.  Today at work I got a call from someone else who seemed to think I should be home during the day to meet him.  So I was confused.  Turns out the usual plumber was hard to reach on Saturday so the dad called a backup.  Usual guy is not coming tomorrow instead.  Someday I'll be able to wash dishes again.

The animals are doing ok.  Joshua is fine, he could care less about any of it.  He's happy and enjoying the sunny spots.  Snickers (other cat) is hiding and tentative about it all, sleeps with me and is not too sure what's going on or where he can hide.  Riley (dog) is guarding the house.  He sleeps by the front door, it's two steps up from the foyer and he sleeps right at the top, barking at every little noise. I hope he gets over it soon or the neighbours are going to complain. 

Jackson is doing ok, but he still asks to go "home" though I think he gets that this new house is home, he's still a little unsure.  He doesn't really seem to like the basement too much yet but I think it will come with time, he's only 3 so playing alone in the basement isn't something he's used to yet.  It will be great when he's a little older, and when he has friends over.

Next steps.  I want to hire a maid.  How terrible but I really think having someone come in every two weeks or so to clean would be so crazy helpful. I hate cleaning.  HATE it.  I don't like it at all and I'm not very good at doing it, but I do like it when it's clean.  I hope to continue with some purging and getting rid of things as we live here, but right now I am too tired of it all.

I am also trying to eat better, lose some weight, all that.  The time change made for a difficult morning today, so not the best to start a new wake up routine.  I think yoga in the morning, or a walking DVD, will be in order.  I needs to do something to help with the stress and weight.  Now that we have a nicer kitchen too I can actually cook, well once I can wash the dishes involved :-)

The only things left at the old house are really the patio furniture, I am hoping to get that this weekend, it will depend on when the snow melts enough.  I will be going to check Wednesday after work, if I can get some of it out that would be great, the sandbox can wait, or stay there, worst case I can get a new one, they aren't that expensive really.  I'll need new sand for it any way. 

I have too much stuff

Way too much.  I could probably get rid of a lot of it but I'm out of time, so now stuff is being shoved in boxes and will get moved and so be it.  I hope I have enough of the smaller boxes for what still needs to be packed, that's why I'm on here instead of packing, I'm afraid I'll run out of space and be stuck.  I know, suck it up and just pack them.  Get it done. 

I got quite a bit done today, but am hoping it was enough and know tomorrow is going to be hectic.  I need to get some stuff packed up to take over to the new place, and then finish the packing. I was hoping it would just be toys but at this rate it's going to be more.  At least the upstairs is done. I think I have a few things to put in boxes, like alarm clocks and night lights, but that will have to wait for the last day and all get piled in one big box.  I am pretty impressed that I've done this much already, I know another week would have been better but I don't want to expose us to any more illness in this house than I have to.  Sadly it means the patio stuff is probably not going to be able to go... but I am still hopeful that the movers will have an idea of how to get the stuff out of there.  I can say goodbye to the sandbox, get him a new one, and even the bbq, though I'll be sad about the propane tank on there.  But the patio furniture and his patio toys, those need to go!  I'd like to get the hose reel too. 

The animals know something is up.  Even Snickers is acting a little oddly.  None of them have ever gone through a move before, so the boxes and things are new. Well my ex moved out at one point so perhaps there was that but he didn't really have any boxes or anything. 

I am excited though, and cannot wait to get to the new place, and settled and the furniture there and just LIVE there.  I know there will be an adjustment, especially when it comes to unpacking.  But I think it will be less stressful than packing has been.  I really hope I don't forget anything important, but I suspect we'll be back a few times to take garbage out and just make sure we have everything. 

I hope that Jackson doesn't worry too much about this move. He has been a little confused but is enjoying being at the new house, and I think he will like it even more when we live there full time.  I know he has been unsure of what is going on, he has said this house will miss us and be sad.  He has been concerned that we will leave the pets behind, and his toys.  But I think he is starting to understand now.  Hopefully once we get settled the bed time parade will diminish.  Lately at bed time he runs through a procrastination list, needs a drink, to pee, a snack, his pillow is too hot, he needs a hug, it's too dark, there are monsters... and repeat.  Once we are settled it will be a lot easier to deal with, right now he does this while I'm trying to pack, and so I can't make much noise because it distracts him even more. 

He's asleep now though, so I'm off to pack some more.  It really sucks that moving requires packing and then unpacking... there should be a transporter to just zap everything over to the new location :-)

Time... never enough

We move on Thursday.  And there is so much to do and I don't have enough time. I need at least one full day.  Tomorrow seems like it may be it.  It is also my last day of sick leave until I accrue another day and a bit some time next week.  I am so stressed out, and totally unprepared.  I have a lot to pack, and some stuff I still want to move over there. I got the keys on Friday and moved some stuff, bought some things and packed some of the basement.  There is still a lot to do though.  Saturday my sister helped me move a lot of stuff, and then the couch was delivered.  And it is so nice, oh my goodness, it is great and comfy, totally worth it.  They also delivered the freezer and put it in the basement for me.  It is also great. 

I had a plan but I don't think it's realistic, so tomorrow I am calling in sick and just going to pack and move stuff.  I will only make one or two trips over there, the rest of the time is for packing.  I have kitchen to pack, basement to finish, bedrooms to finish and bathrooms to pack, as well as one box of decorative knick knack things.  I should also try and make sure I have all the toys out from under the couch, chair and ready to go.  I don't want to pack them all up because he still needs to be able to play. 

I think I'll get some TV dinners for the week as well, they are on sale this week which makes them a good deal, cheap dinners for a few days.  Then we can worry about the rest later. 

My parent's are coming to help on Saturday, staying over to Sunday. And we got invited to a birthday party Saturday, which I'd like to take him to, but I'll have to get a present, and should be unpacking.  It sucks that I have to pack everything up tomorrow and unpack it 3 days later... crazy. 

I am really looking forward to Friday, to being in the new house, somewhat settled, and the move part done.  There is probably still going to be stuff left behind, but I will deal with it later, I have the whole month to make sure I have it all, and take care of the rest.  I just want to be in the new space, enjoying it and hopefully it will be a happy time for us.  And hopefully my stomach issues will get better because I am so tired of feeling like this. 

Time for change

The packing... not going that well but some is getting done. I am a little worried about the basement.  I don't like it down there and the thought of packing the stuff that needs packing scares me to be honest.  I think some of it is going to just get moved and I'll deal with it in the new house later.  I intend to keep on with the purging, regardless of how much I can get done before we go.  I hope that I get it all done, but imagine there will be a mad scramble at the end. I have some stuff packed up, and the upstairs will be fairly easy, though my room may be a problem.  The main floor, well it's a toy fest :-)  so that will be interesting. I plan on taking a box of toys over Friday for Jackson to play with while we work on the moving and setting up stuff.  I hope to do quite a bit on Friday as soon as I get the keys, I have a couple lists of things to buy, money money!  But I want a new start, a fresh start and newness.

I need a change.  I need this change, but I need for it to carry through.  I need to make changes for my health, for Jackson's health, for our lives.  With the gallbladder news I know I need to correct my health, eat better and move more.  I also need to work on my stress levels. I get stressed out a lot, and I need a better way to deal with it.  I am considering yoga, I have some yoga DVDs I can do, but I need to find the time, and energy to actually do it.  The time is tricky, I get up by 5:30 as it is, and by the time Jackson goes to bed all I want to do is crawl in bed myself.  I do need to get in bed by 9 or so, in order to get up that early.  I am tired of being tired. 

I have a friend who calls me a hermit, which would be true.  If it wasn't for Jackson I would probably never leave the house.  With so much on line shopping available, and even the chance to work from home, though I'm not sure how that works, I would be quite happy to be here all the time.  It is hard to step out of that. I don't really know why it is, I know my mom is similar and it's why they don't come and visit me very often.  My sister is the opposite, she loves to be out, with people, and doing stuff.  I often wish I had a little more of that.  I have often forced myself to get out with Jackson, when he was a baby I did a few activities with him in tow.  But not lately. I am stuck, in a rut and he's the one paying for it. I know he doesn't know any different, but he should get to be out there doing fun things not stuck here with me because I'm scared or tired. 

A few of the changes I plan to make are ordering organic produce delivery, yes this is a home activity, but it will mean healthier eating. I also plan to go to some farmers markets on the weekends when they open, Jackson should enjoy that I think.  I hope to get local meats and eggs as well as veggies and fruit.  Walks and runs will happen, hopefully Jackson will learn to ride his balance bike early in the spring so we can jog while he rides.  I also want for him to play outside in the summer, the new yard looks great and I hope it is as nice as I think.  He will be taking swimming lessons and possibly signing up for soccer or something like that as well.  It is a very good thing that he is in daycare and around so many kids, it is a good thing for him, especially with such an anti-social mommy.

Mommy's health

Being a single mom is great in almost every way.  But I have encountered the one big downfall.  My health.  A few months ago I had a flare up of pain in my upper abdomen, it lasted for a few days, didn't matter what I ate, it would flare up with in about 30 minutes of eating and last for hours, I felt horrible and was so glad when it passed. I didn't go to the doctor, I had just started a new job and couldn't really take the time.  Well it flared up again yesterday, so today I went to my doctor. He's sending me for an ultrasound and blood work.  He thinks it's my gallbladder.  Lovely.  From what I am reading it will likely lead to surgery and having it out.  How do I do that with a 3-year-old running around?  I understand it is probably a day surgery, but that's still a whole day and it's scary.  I'm sure it's a routine procedure and all that but I worked in the operating rooms, I've seen it, and it's scary. 

Being me, I am going to wait and see, perhaps I will be able to manage this with diet.  Somehow.  Perhaps I can beat it with some "natural" remedy.  So far the worst flares have been when I am extra stressed, first due to the new job and now due to the big move.  Perhaps if I can find some ways to better deal with my stress I'll be in better shape.  But, since this is my life and my son's future, I need to take care of me.  I will get the tests done, probably not as quickly as the doctor would like but I'll do my best. 

The move is consuming me, yesterday being so sick did not help. I didn't get as much garbage out as I wanted to, nothing got packed. But I got rid of a dresser I was selling.  And I did pack two boxes tonight, books. I have a lot of books, and probably not enough boxes. There is still a lot of packing to do, I really should go through the boxes in the basement, at least a little bit, I'm sure there is stuff I could leave behind. I will be working hard this weekend.  We have to go finish paying for the couch, then get groceries, and Sunday the donation people are coming to pick stuff up, hopefully lots of stuff.  And in between it all I will be packing.  And packing some more.  Then next Friday I will get the keys, start moving stuff, go pick up the store stuff I want to get, and probably do the blood work.  Since it has to be fasting, I can do it after I drop Jackson off at daycare.  I hope.  We'll see.  It still is annoying and frustrating. 

From what I've been reading, this gallbladder thing is likely caused by my pregnancy, a leftover reminder of that.  I have to say, every time it flares up I am reminded of labour.  So I guess that's fitting.  It is also really making me second guess my desire for another baby.  Add in the temper issues I've been having, probably also related to stress, and I have no idea what the future really holds for my little family.  Beyond moving to a new home and hopefully cleaning up my living and health.  Stress management is going to be key. 

ah sleep

I miss sleep. I miss sleeping straight through the night, falling asleep easily, staying asleep until morning.  I can pretty much blame my son for all of the problems I have now.  It started when I was pregnant, I was pretty sick and would wake up throwing up, would go to bed, and feel nauseous.  Then he got bigger and I had to pee every 5 minutes, all night long.  When Jackson was born I spent the first 6 weeks or so fighting to sleep.  He was a colicky boy, spent the evenings crying and screaming.  I spent the evenings crying too.  I am used to an early bedtime but he was not, he would be "active" from my usual bedtime until well after midnight.  It took me weeks to try putting him on his belly to sleep.  I remember it quite clearly, I was desperate and tried it.  He slept 6 hours straight, first time, I woke up and was sure I'd killed him. But of course he was fine.  I kept doing it that way, he'd fall asleep in my arms and I'd put him down on his belly to sleep.  He never really did more than a 6 hour stretch, and of course around 4 months we had the nap disruptions.  I learned to nap when he did, to sleep when I could.  And even now if by some miracle he has a nap on the weekend, I also nap.  But that hasn't happened in a few weeks and that was sort of a one off, consistent weekend naps haven't happened for months, though he still naps at daycare. 

I know the bottle thing was my own doing, but it was easier than dealing with him crying himself sick, while trying to get up for work and life.  He seems to have taken to the bottle fairy thing pretty easily.  He asked the first night for the babies to give his bottles back, but after that hasn't asked for them at all.  He has a hard time settling down, wants me there but it doesn't help him settle down.  When I am there he just seems to want to talk. He told me Nancy (his daycare teacher) tells him to stop talking or he won't be able to sleep next to Carter at daycare.  I guess this is an issue for him, talking instead of sleeping.  Hopefully he will learn to settle himself and fall asleep. I know it's hard, I often still have nights where my mind is racing and I can't settle my own thoughts, so I do understand the issue.

Last night he woke up around 3 crying. I went in to see what the matter was, since no bottles would be offered. Sometimes he wakes up and wants to pee, but last night all he wanted was a hug.  Poor kiddo.  He has a cough, I sometimes wonder if it's due to this house, so sleep has been restless.  But he did sleep until 8am Sunday and Monday, which is unheard of, even when he's sick.  I'm sure a big part of it is that he wasn't soaked through from drinking so much over night.  I am hoping that in another week or so, hopefully when the cough is gone, he will sleep straight through with no wake ups.  I know from experience that even if he does sleep straight through the night (he has done that on occasion) I will still wake up, to pee or just because.  It's frustrating, like I need to train myself to sleep properly again. 

We are both going to be tired tomorrow, he isn't going to sleep, which means I can't go to sleep.  And since I'm up I should be packing something, but I'm not.  It's going to be a mad scramble at the end to pack and move everything.  Scary.  I hope that the new house will not cause new sleep issues.  Perhaps a new room will be a good thing? 

I like my sleep, I used to be able to sleep until noon, with no problem. Now if I sleep past 7 I wake up with  a headache.  I don't think I need my old sleep habits back, but I sure would like the occasion to sleep in or have a nap, or just not have my sleep run by a child.  I don't think it will get better even when he is older, there may be a period in the middle where sleep is good, before he starts going out with friends and staying up too late. 

Good night.

The Best Laid Plans

This weekend is quickly winding down, and I have not gotten nearly enough done.  I can see this move is going to be a flurry of last minute packing and anxiety.  Somehow the day gets away from me, and with the new bottle free nights, falling asleep for my boy is taking some time, and a few checks by me.  He hasn't asked for one which is good, though he has asked for milk.  He thought last night he would be thirsty overnight but tonight he told me he wasn't.  I am slightly worried I got too few small boxes and too many of the big ones, I don't want to pack things too heavy, and I'm not sure if toys should be in small or big boxes, I think perhaps they can go in the bigger ones, I hope so any way since I will have more of those in the end. 

So why am I writing on here, rather than packing?  Because the packing tape is upstairs and it might wake the boy who just fell asleep.  I should go up and get it, I can at least pack my books and DVDs.  Some of the boys too I'm sure. I know there are things in the kitchen I can pack as well.  I also need to sort some stuff in the basement for donating next weekend, and getting the garbage ready for Tuesday night.  It really sucks that we can only put garbage out every two weeks, honestly it's a huge pain and the city is run by morons if they thought it would be a good idea. 

I am still really happy with my couch purchase, it is a great deal and it was so comfy.  I hope it all fits well and looks how I think it will.  I am also sad that I couldn't get the bedding set I wanted, they were out of stock though they weren't supposed to be.  Now I don't have new bedding for my new house and it makes me a little bit sad.  Hopefully something will work out and I'll find something I like, with a pretty colour in it to paint the room.  Not that I'm sure I want to pay for the paint and supplies, there are other things I would much rather get and do. 

In 18 days we will be living in the new house.  Eighteen days.  The last few days of it will be incredibly busy and stressful.  I hope to move many things myself, and that will be difficult with the boy around, but I think I will be taking a sick day on March 1st so I can get everything I want from the stores, and move a few loads over.  Hopefully I can manage 4 trips that day, and a few the following morning.  The following morning will depend on when the couch is being delivered, if it's in the morning I won't be able to do any trips, but I hope it will be the afternoon.  Jackson will have to do a few trips with me on Sunday, and possibly in the evenings.  I am stressed just thinking about it. 

I think I must be the queen of procrastination.  I am very good at leaving things until the last minute.  And I suspect that this place is going to be left a disaster when I leave it.  I hope that I do not leave anything important behind, and that the backyard is thawed enough to get everything from it that I want to take. 

I look around and think it will only take a few minutes to pack up, but in reality I am pretty sure it will take a couple days of solid work.  Which is really really hard with a three year old on the loose.  And no extra vacation days I can take.  So I have until the 24th to get everything ready for donating, that will be a big help, to get all that stuff out of here, but I need to make sure I get as much donated as possible.  On that note, I need to go to bed soon, so I can have some energy tomorrow to deal with all of it.  I can do this.